Digital camera

ABSTRACT

A digital camera captures an image of a photographic subject and creates image data, and records this image data upon a recording medium. The digital camera includes: an image processing device that, according to operation by a user, performs any of a plurality of types of image processing upon the image data that has been recorded; and a control device that, for performing the image processing, (a) if image data is first selected, permits selection of a type of image processing that is to be performed upon the selected image data; and (b) if a type of image processing is first selected, permits selection of image data upon which that selected type of image processing is to be performed.

INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE

This is a Continuation of application Ser. No. 11/882,031, filed Jul.30, 2007, which claims the benefit of Japanese Patent Application No.2006-213440, filed Aug. 4, 2006. The disclosures of the priorapplications are hereby incorporated by reference herein in theirentirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a digital camera, with which imageprocessing can be performed upon photographed image data.

2. Description of Related Art Japanese Laid Open Patent Publication No.2001-169174 discloses a digital camera with which photographed(recorded) image data is re-recordable after it is read out from amemory card to be subjected to image processing such as a sharpnessprocess, a contrast control, a chroma control, etc.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A digital camera that captures an image of a photographic subject andcreates image data, and records this image data upon a recording mediumaccording to 1st aspect of the present invention includes: an imageprocessing device that, according to operation by a user, performs anyof a plurality of types of image processing upon the image data that hasbeen recorded; and a control device that, for performing the imageprocessing, (a) if image data is first selected, permits selection of atype of image processing that is to be performed upon the selected imagedata; and (b) if a type of image processing is first selected, permitsselection of image data upon which that selected type of imageprocessing is to be performed.

According to a 2nd aspect of the present invention, it is preferablethat the digital camera according to the 1st aspect further includes: adecision device that decides whether performing image processing uponimage data is appropriate; and a prohibition device that prohibits theimage processing, if the decision device has decided that it is notappropriate to perform the image processing upon the image data.

According to a 3rd aspect of the present invention, in the digitalcamera according to the 2nd aspect, if image data is first selected, theprohibition device may prohibit the selection of a type of imageprocessing that the decision device has decided it is not appropriate toperform upon that selected image data.

According to a 4th aspect of the present invention, in the digitalcamera according to the 2nd aspect, if a type of image processing isfirst selected, the prohibition device may prohibit the selection ofimage data upon which the decision device has decided it is notappropriate to perform that selected type of image processing.

According to a 5th aspect of the present invention, in the digitalcamera according to the 1st aspect, the control device, in method (b) inwhich a type of image processing is first selected and image data isselected thereafter, may permit image processing to be performed using aplurality of sets of image data.

A digital camera that captures an image of a photographic subject andcreates image data, and records this image data upon a recording mediumaccording to a 6th aspect of the present invention includes: an imageprocessing device that, according to operation by a user, performs anyof a plurality of types of image processing upon the image data that hasbeen recorded; a decision device that decides whether performing imageprocessing upon image data is appropriate; and a control device thatprohibits the image processing, if the decision device has decided thatit is not appropriate to perform the image processing upon the imagedata.

According to a 7th aspect of the present invention, in the digitalcamera according to the 6th aspect, the decision device may decidewhether performing image processing upon image data is appropriate ornot, based upon photographic conditions during image capture of theimage data.

According to a 8th aspect of the present invention, in the digitalcamera according to the 7th aspect, the decision device may decidewhether performing image processing upon image data is appropriate ornot, based upon details of previous image processing of the image data.

According to a 9th aspect of the present invention, in the digitalcamera according to the 8th aspect, the decision device may decide thatit is not appropriate to perform, upon a same image data, a same type ofimage processing as has been previously performed.

A computer-readable computer program product according to a 10th aspectof the present invention contains an image processing control program,with the image processing control program including: instructions forperforming image processing upon image data; instructions for, forperformance of the image processing, if image data is first selected,permitting selection of a type of image processing that is to beperformed upon that selected image data; and instructions for, forperformance of the image processing, if a type of image processing isfirst selected, permitting selection of image data upon which thatselected type of image processing is to be performed.

A computer-readable computer program product according to a 11th aspectof the present invention contains an image processing control program,with the image processing control program including: instructions forperforming image processing upon image data; instructions for, accordingto operation by a user, performing any of a plurality of types of imageprocessing upon the image data that has been recorded; instructions fordeciding whether performing image processing upon image data isappropriate; and instructions for prohibiting the image processing, ifit has been decided that it is not appropriate to perform the imageprocessing upon the image data.

According to a 12th aspect of the present invention, in thecomputer-readable computer program product according to the 10th or 11thaspect, the computer-readable computer program product may be arecording medium on which the control program is recorded.

According to a 13th aspect of the present invention, in thecomputer-readable computer program product according to the 10th or 11thaspect, the computer-readable computer program product is a carrier wavein which the control program may be embodied as a data signal.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a control block diagram of a digital camera according to anembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a figure for explanation of control, during image processing,for selecting a type of image processing after having previouslyselected image data;

FIGS. 3A and 3B are figures for explanation of control, during imageprocessing, for selecting image data after having previously selected atype of image processing;

FIG. 4 is a figure showing an example of a case in which a type of imageprocessing that cannot be selected is present upon a selection menu forimage processing type;

FIG. 5 is a flow chart for explanation of a sequence of control thatcorresponds to FIG. 2;

FIG. 6 is a flow chart showing a detailed sequence of control in theprocessing of FIG. 5 for displaying an image processing type selectionmenu;

FIG. 7 is a flow chart for explanation of a sequence of control thatcorresponds to FIGS. 3A and 3B;

FIG. 8 is a flow chart showing a detailed sequence of control in theprocessing of FIG. 7 for displaying an image selection screen; and

FIG. 9 is a figure for explanation of a situation in which a controlprogram for image processing is supplied via a recording medium or adata signal such as the internet or the like.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

An embodiment of the present invention will now be described withreference to FIGS. 1 through 8.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a digital camera according to thisembodiment. A light flux from a photographic subject that has passedthrough a photographic lens (not shown in the figures) isphotoelectrically converted by an image sensor 11 that includes, forexample, a CCD sensor or a CMOS sensor or the like. The image signalthat is the photoelectric conversion output of the image sensor 11 issubjected to various types of processing by an image processing circuit12, and thereby image data is generated. This image data, after havingbeen temporarily stored in a buffer memory 13, is recorded via arecording circuit 14 upon a recording medium 15 such as a memory card orthe like as an image file. This image file is in a format that can behandled by a computer, and normally includes additional information (forexample Exif information) as well as the image data. The date on whichthis image was photographed is recorded in this appended information, aswell as its photographic conditions (such as aperture value, shutterspeed, presence or absence of flash emission, and the like). Therecording medium 15 can be inserted into the digital camera, and can beextracted therefrom, via a slot not shown in the figures that isprovided to the digital camera. Alternatively, it would also beacceptable to arrange for the recording medium to be an internal memorythat is housed within the digital camera.

A display device 16 includes a liquid crystal monitor that is disposed,for example, upon the rear surface of the digital camera, and a drivecircuit therefor, and is capable of performing image display, menudisplay, and the like. And an operation unit 17 includes variousoperation members such as a release button and various types ofoperation buttons and the like that are used during a reproducing modeas will be described hereinafter, and ON/OFF switches that areinterlocked with the actuation of these members. The CPU 18 executesoperations based on programs stored in a memory 19, and drive controlsthe various circuits and devices described above based upon input fromthe operation unit 17.

Next, image processing upon a recorded image will be explained.

As described above, this digital camera performs predetermined imageprocessing upon an image signal that has been obtained by the imagecapture process, and records the image data upon the recording medium 15after it has been thus image processed. Separately from that initialimage processing, this digital camera is also capable of reading outimage data that has been recorded upon the recording medium 15, ofperforming image processing thereupon as desired by the user, and ofthen recording it back to the recording medium 15 again. In thefollowing explanation, unless particularly specified otherwise, “imageprocessing” will be used to mean this type of processing upon suchrecorded image data.

As for the types of image processing that maybe selected, these includea tone compensation, a white balance control, a color conversion(including conversion to monochrome), a trimming, a red eyecompensation, a distortion correction, a noise removal, an image sizereduction, and the like. A plurality of processes may also be executedupon a single set of image data. When image processing is performed uponsome image data, the name of this image processing is stored incorrespondence with the image data. For example, the name of the imageprocessing may be recorded in the additional information describedabove.

The following two types of order for performing the image processing areavailable, and the user can select either one of them:

(1) First the image data is selected, and next the type of imageprocessing is selected.

(2) First the type of image processing is selected, and next the imagedata is selected.

The method (1) will now be explained with reference to FIG. 2. When byactuating the operation unit 17 the user selects image data (forexample, an image 1) upon which image processing is to be performed, animage of the photographic subject is displayed upon the display device16 based upon this image data. And when, in this state, the useroperates the operation unit 17 and issues a command for image processingto be performed, an image processing type selection menu as seen in thefigure is displayed as superimposed over this image of the photographicsubject. In this image processing type selection menu, a list of theabove described types of image processing is displayed, and the user isable to select any one of these types of image processing by actuationof the operation unit 17. For the image processing type A, the imageprocessing type B, and so on shown in this figure, actually the specificnames of these types of image processing are displayed. When any one ofthese image processing types is selected, this selected type of imageprocessing is performed upon the image data, and, along with displayingthe resultant image after this image processing, the image data afterimage processing is recorded upon the recording medium 15.

This method (1) is convenient when the image data is settled upon inadvance, and the user desires to perform some type of image processingupon this image data.

Next, the method (2) will now be explained with reference to FIG. 3.When by operating the operation unit 17 the user issues a command toperform image processing before actually causing any images to bedisplayed, then an image processing type selection menu is displayedupon the display device 16, as shown in FIG. 3A. When the user selectsany one of these types of image processing, then an image selectionscreen is displayed for selection of the image data upon which this typeof image processing is to be performed, as shown in FIG. 3B. On thisimage selection screen, a plurality of image data that are recorded uponthe recording medium 15 are displayed as thumbnail images. In FIG. 3B,by way of example, nine such thumbnail images are displayed upon eachpage, and changing between pages is performed with a predeterminedoperation using the operation unit 17.

When the user selects any one of these thumbnail images by operating theoperation unit 17, the type of image processing that was selected inadvance is performed upon the image data that corresponds to the imagethat has thus been selected. Although fundamentally only one image canbe selected, it may be possible to select a plurality of image data,depending upon the type of image processing that has been selected. Forexample, if “resize” has been selected as the image processing type,then it is made possible for a plurality of image data to be selected.

This method (2) is convenient when the type of image processing issettled upon in advance, and the user desires to check the advantageouseffect of performing this type of image processing upon various imagedata.

Now although, as described above, there are a plurality of types ofimage processing that can be selected, it is not the case that every oneof these types of image processing can be performed upon every image.For example since the so called red eye phenomenon, in which the eyes ofa person are tinged with red color, is an effect that only can begenerated if flash photography was performed in the first place.Accordingly, for an image that was not shot using flash photography inthe first place, even if “red eye compensation” is performed upon theimage data, this has no meaning. Accordingly, when image data for animage that was shot with non-flash photography has been selected, it ismade to be impossible to select “red eye compensation”. Furthermore,when “red eye compensation” has been selected first, it is made to beimpossible to select image data for images that were shot with non-flashphotography.

As another example, it is made to be impossible to select “white balancecontrol” for images upon whose image data “color conversion (convert tomonochrome)” has already been performed, so that, if “white balancecontrol” is selected first, then it is made to be impossible to selectimage data for images upon which “color conversion (convert tomonochrome)” has already been performed. Moreover, it is made to beimpossible to perform a type of image processing, that has already beenperformed once, for a second time upon the same image data. Yet further,it is made to be impossible to perform other image processing upon imagedata, upon which “trimming” or “resize” has already been performed.

FIG. 4 shows an example of display in a case in which, with the method(1), it has been made to be impossible to select image processing typeB. On the image processing type selection menu, the portion for theimage processing type B is made to be an inactive display (for exampleis displayed as grey), so that the user is notified that this imageprocessing type B cannot be selected. Although it is possible to shiftthe cursor or selection frame that indicates the currently selected typeof image processing upwards or downwards by using the operation unit 17according to the predetermined operation for selection of imageprocessing type, it is arranged, in this shifting, to skip the portionof the display for the image processing type B, so that it cannot beselected. Furthermore, on the image selection screen for the method (2),by a similar method, it may be arranged to display portionscorresponding to specified thumbnail images as inactive displayportions, or to make it impossible to select such thumbnail images.

It should be understood that it would also be acceptable to arrange todisplay all of the types of image processing or thumbnail images asactive portions of the display, and, if the user has attempted to selectone of them that should not be selected, to display a message that itcannot be selected, so that, as a result, the user cannot select thesame. Alternatively it would also be acceptable to arrange, as anoption, not to display any type of image processing or thumbnail imagethat cannot be selected.

Examples of sequences of processing for implementing control related tothe above described image processing are shown by way of example inFIGS. 5 through 8. These processing sequences are executed by the CPU 18according to a program that is stored in the memory 19.

FIG. 5 is a flow chart showing an example of a sequence of processingfor the method (1). When a reproducing mode is set, this program isstarted by the CPU 18. In a first step S1, the image data that should beinitially displayed is determined. For example, among the image datarecorded upon the recording medium 15, the image data for the image thatwas shot most recently may be taken as image data for image to bedisplayed initially. Next, in a step S2, a decision is taken as to thepresence or absence of operation for frame advancement. If it isconfirmed that operation for frame advancement has been performed, thenthe flow of control proceeds to a step S3, in which the image data forthe next image to be displayed is determined; and then the f low ofcontrol returns to the step S2. On the other hand, if no operation forframe advancement is confirmed, then the flow of control is transferredto a step S4, in which a decision is taken as to the presence or absenceof a user's operation to terminate reproduction. If operation toterminate reproduction has been performed, then the processing of thisFIG. 5 flow chart is terminated; while on the other hand, if nooperation to terminate reproduction has been performed, then the flow ofcontrol proceeds to a step S5.

In this step S5, a decision is made as to whether or not to performimage processing upon the image data for the image that is currentlybeing displayed. If the user performs operation using the operation unit17 to command image processing to be performed, then the flow of controlproceeds to a step S6, in which an image processing type selection menuas shown in FIG. 2 is displayed.

FIG. 6 is a flow chart showing the detailed sequence of control in theimage selection menu processing of this step S6 of FIG. 5. In a stepS61, the additional information for the image data of the image that iscurrently selected (i.e. displayed) is analyzed. Next, in a step S62 thetype or types of image processing that cannot be selected are pickedout.

For example, if image data for an image that has been shot withnon-flash photography has been selected, then it is made to beimpossible to select “red eye compensation”. Furthermore, if image dataupon which “color conversion (convert to monochrome)” has beenperformed, then it is made to be impossible to select “white balancecontrol”. And, if some type of image processing has already beenperformed upon the image data that is currently selected, then it ismade to be impossible to select this type of image processing. Moreover,it is made to be impossible to select any other type of image processingupon the image data for an image upon which “trimming” or “resize” hasalready been performed. And next, in a step S63, while the imageprocessing type selection menu is displayed, all of the types ofprocessing for which selection has been made impossible as describedabove are displayed as inactive display portions, while the other typesof processing are displayed as active display portions (refer to FIG.4).

The user is able to select any one of the types of image processing thathas been displayed as active from the image processing type selectionmenu that has thus been displayed upon the display screen of the displaydevice 16. If in a step S7 of FIG. 5 the user has not selected any typeof image processing, then the flow of control proceeds to a step S8. Ifcancellation operation is performed in this step S8, then the flow ofcontrol returns to the step S2. On the other hand, if any one of thetypes of image processing is selected in the step S7, then the flow ofcontrol is transferred to a step S9. In this step S9, the type of imageprocessing that has been selected is performed, via the image processingcircuit 12, upon the image data for the image that is currentlyselected.

Next, in a step S10, an image is displayed based upon the image dataafter image processing, and then in a step S11 an enquiry is made to theuser as to whether or not the image data after image processing is to bestored. If this image data is not to be stored then the flow of controlproceeds to a step S12. In this step S12, if a user's cancellationoperation is performed, then the flow of control returns to the step S6;while, if cancellation operation is not performed, then the flow ofcontrol returns to the step S11. However, if in the step S11 the usercommands for the image data to be stored, then the flow of controlproceeds to a step S13. In this step S13, the image data after imageprocessing is recorded upon the recording medium 15 separately from theimage data before image processing, and then the flow of control returnsto the step S6.

It should be understood that there is also an image selection method inwhich the image that is to be displayed is selected from a plurality ofthumbnail images, although this matter is not described in the flowchartof FIG. 5. It is also possible to perform image processing in a similarmanner upon image data that has been selected from the plurality ofthumbnail images.

FIG. 7 is a flow chart showing an example of a sequence of processingfor the method (2). This program is started by the CPU 18 when imageprocessing starting operation is performed by the user in the state inwhich no image is being displayed. First in a step S21 the imageprocessing type selection menu is displayed (here, all of the types ofimage processing are displayed as active, as shown in FIG. 3A). Next,when in a step S22 the type of image processing that is to be performedis selected from this image processing type selection menu, the flow ofcontrol proceeds to a step S23, and, as shown for example in FIG. 3B, animage selection screen for selection of the image data upon which thisselected type of image processing is to be performed is displayed. Itshould be understood that, if in the step S22 no type of imageprocessing is selected, the flow of control proceeds to a step S24; and,if termination operation has been selected in this step S24, theprocessing of the FIG. 7 flow chart is terminated.

FIG. 8 is a flow chart showing the detailed sequence of control for theimage selection screen display performed in the step S23 of FIG. 7. In astep S231, the additional information of the image data that is recordedupon the recording medium 15 is analyzed. In the next step S232, imagedata upon which the type of image processing that is currently selectedshould not be performed is picked out. For example, if “red eyecompensation” is selected, then it is made to be impossible for theimage data for those images that were shot with non-flash photography tobe selected. Furthermore, if “white balance control” is selected, thenit is made to be impossible for the image data upon which “colorconversion (convert to monochrome)” has already been performed to beselected. Yet further, it is made to be impossible for the image dataupon which the selected type of image processing has already beenperformed to be selected. Moreover, it is made to be impossible for theimage data upon which “trimming” or “resize” has already been performedto be selected. Finally, in a step S233, the image selection screen isdisplayed, with all of the thumbnail images upon which it has been madeto be impossible for the currently selected processing to be performedbeing displayed as inactive, and the other thumbnail images beingdisplayed as active.

After having performed display of the image selection screen in the stepS23, if a decision is made in the next step S25 that “resize” is beingselected as the type of image processing, then the flow of control istransferred to a step S26. If in this step S26 image selection operationis being performed, then the flow of control proceeds to a step S27, inwhich the image data that has been selected is taken as a candidate forimage processing. Since in the case of “resize” it is possible to selecta plurality of images, accordingly the image data that has been selectedthis time is appended as a candidate. Next, if in a step S28 OKoperation is performed by the user, then the flow of control proceeds toa step S29, in which a check is made as to whether or not at least oneimage is being selected. If the result of the decision in this step S29is negative, then the flow of control returns to the step S26, while ifthe result is affirmative then the flow of control proceeds to a stepS30.

In the step S30, the selected type of image processing (here, “resize”)is performed upon the selected image data. Next, in a step S31, an imageis displayed based upon the image data after image processing. It shouldbe understood that, if a plurality of image data are selected, the imagethat has been processed last is displayed. Moreover, it should beunderstood that if OK operation is not performed in the step S28, thenthe flow of control is transferred to a step S42. If in this step S42the user performs cancellation operation, then the flow of controlreturns to the step 21; while, if the user does not perform canceloperation, then the flow of control returns to the step S26.

In the step S32, an enquiry is made to the user as to whether or not theimage data after image processing is to be stored. If this image data isnot to be stored then the flow of control proceeds to a step S34. Inthis step S34, if user cancellation operation is performed, then theflow of control returns to the step S21; while, if cancellationoperation is not performed, then the flow of control returns to the stepS32. However, if in the step S32 the user commands for the image data tobe stored, then in the next step S33 the image data after imageprocessing is recorded upon the recording medium 15 separately from theimage data before image processing, and then the flow of control returnsto the step S21.

On the other hand, if a negative decision is reached in the step S25,and if some type of image processing other than “resize” is selected,then the flow of control proceeds to a step S35. When in this step S35image selection is performed, then the flow of control proceeds to astep S36, in which the image data that has been selected is set as acandidate for image processing. Since it is only possible to select asingle image except for the case in which the selected type of imageprocessing is “resize”, accordingly, in the case where some other imagehas already been selected, the selection of this image is cancelled, andthe image data that is now being selected is set as the candidate forimage processing. The processing of the steps S37 and S38 is similar tothe processing in the steps S28 and S29. In the step S39, the selectedtype of image processing is performed upon the image data that isselected, and then in the subsequent step S40 the image after imageprocessing is displayed. Thereafter, the flow of control is transferredto the step S32.

As explained above, according to this embodiment, it is possible toperform image processing upon the image data according to a method thatcorresponds to the desire of the user, or that corresponds to thecircumstances. For example, it is made to be impossible to select a typeof image processing that cannot be performed upon the image data thathas been selected, or that it is not appropriate to perform thereupon.Furthermore, it is made to be impossible to select image data upon whichthe type of image processing that has been selected cannot be performed,or upon which it is not appropriate to perform this type of imageprocessing. Due to this, it is possible to provide a selection functionthat is easy to understand from the point of view of the user.

It should be understood that the types of image processing that can beselected are not necessarily limited to those described above; forexample, it would also be acceptable to arrange for it to be possible toselect a type of image processing in which the data for two or moreimages is combined, so as to create image data for a single image. Sincein a reproducing mode the image display is performed one image at atime, accordingly, when performing such image processing in which thedata for two or more images is used, it is only possible to employ themethod (2) described above, in which, after first having selected thedesired type of image processing, subsequently the selection of imagesis performed.

It should be understood that, if the present invention is applied to apersonal computer or the like, the program related to control of theabove described image processing may be supplied via a recording mediumsuch as a CD-ROM or the like, or via a data signal such as the internetor the like. FIG. 9 is a figure showing such a situation. A personalcomputer 300 receives supply of a program via a CD-ROM 304. Furthermore,the personal computer 300 is endowed with a function of connection to acommunication line 301. A computer 302 is a server computer thatsupplies the program described above, and stores the program upon arecording medium such as a hard disk 303 or the like. The communicationline 301 includes the Internet, a communication line such as a PCcommunication or the like, or a dedicated communication line or thelike. And the computer 302 reads out the program from the hard disk 303,and transmits this program via the communication line 301 to thepersonal computer 300. In other words, the program is embodied upon acarrier wave as a data signal, and is transmitted via the communicationline 301. In this manner, the program may be supplied as a computerprogram product that can be read in by a computer in various differentformats, such as a recording medium or a data signal embodied upon acarrier wave or the like.

Furthermore, with a personal computer, it would also be possible toperform the image processing described above upon image data other thanan image of photographic subject that has been captured by the digitalcamera.

The control described above for image processing may be implemented uponsome device that handles image data other than a digital camera; forexample, it may also be implemented upon an electronic device such as aphoto storage device that stores images, or the like.

The above-described embodiments are examples, and various modificationscan be made without departing from the scope of the invention.

1. (canceled)
 2. A digital camera, comprising: an image processingdevice that is configured to perform image processing to image datarecorded to a recording medium; and a control device that is configuredto perform control such that, if image processing is performed to imagedata recorded to the recording medium, (a) image processing, among aplurality of types of image processing, that is not supposed to beperformed to image processing subject image data is prohibited frombeing performed to the image processing subject image data, if at leastone image data of image data recorded to the recording medium isselected as the image processing subject image data, and (b) selectedimage processing is prohibited from being performed to image data, ofimage data recorded to the recording medium, to which the selected imageprocessing is not supposed to be performed, if a type of imageprocessing to be performed to the image processing subject image data isselected, from among the plurality of types of image processing, beforeat least one image data of image data recorded to the recording mediumis selected as image processing subject image data.
 3. The digitalcamera according to claim 2, wherein: if image data is first selected, aprohibition device is configured to prohibit selection of a type ofimage processing that a decision device has decided is not appropriateto perform upon that selected image data.
 4. The digital cameraaccording to claim 2, wherein: if the type of image processing is firstselected, a prohibition device is configured to prohibit selection ofimage data upon which a decision device has decided it is notappropriate to perform that selected type of image processing.
 5. Thedigital camera according to claim 2, wherein: the control device, in (b)in which selected image processing is prohibited from being performed toimage data, is configured to permit image data to which selected imageprocessing can be performed to be selected and is configured to permitimage processing to be performed using a plurality of sets of imagedata.
 6. A digital camera, comprising: an image processing device that,in response to user instructions, is configured to perform imageprocessing to image data of an image file recorded to a recordingmedium; a determination device that is configured to determine whetherimage processing is to be performed by the image processing device,based on additional information added to the image file; and a controldevice that is configured to prohibit image processing from beingperformed in response to user instructions when the determination devicedetermines that image processing is not to be performed by the imageprocessing device.
 7. The digital camera according to claim 6, wherein:the determination device is configured to decide whether performingimage processing upon image data is appropriate or not, based uponphotographic conditions during image capture of the image data.
 8. Thedigital camera according to claim 7, wherein: the determination deviceis configured to decide whether performing image processing upon imagedata is appropriate or not, based upon details of previous imageprocessing of the image data.
 9. The digital camera according to claim8, wherein: the determination device is configured to decide that it isnot appropriate to perform, upon a same image data, a same type of imageprocessing as has been previously performed.
 10. A non-transitorycomputer-readable storage medium containing an image processing controlprogram to be executed by a computer, the image processing controlprogram comprising: instructions for performing image processing toimage data recorded to a recording medium; and instructions forcontrolling performance such that, if image processing is performed toimage data recorded to the recording medium, (a) image processing, amonga plurality of types of image processing, that is not supposed to beperformed to image processing subject image data is prohibited frombeing performed to the image processing subject image data, if at leastone image-datum data of image data recorded to the recording medium isselected as the image processing subject image data, and (b) selectedimage processing is prohibited from being performed to image data, ofimage data recorded to the recording medium, to which the selected imageprocessing is not supposed to be performed, if a type of imageprocessing to be performed to the image processing subject image data isselected, from among the plurality of types of image processing, beforeat least one image data of image data recorded to the recording mediumis selected as image processing subject image data.
 11. The imageprocessing control program according to claim 10, further comprising:instructions for prohibiting selection of a type of image processingthat a decision device has decided is not appropriate to perform uponthat selected image data if image data is first selected.
 12. The imageprocessing control program according to claim 10, further comprising:instructions for prohibiting selection of image data upon which adecision device has decided it is not appropriate to perform thatselected type of image processing if a type of image processing is firstselected.
 13. The image processing control program according to claim10, further comprising: instructions for permitting image data, in (b)in which selected image processing is prohibited from being performed toimage data, to which selected image processing can be performed isallowed to be selected and permitting image processing to be performedusing a plurality of sets of image data.
 14. A non-transitorycomputer-readable storage medium containing an image processing controlprogram to be executed by a computer, the image processing controlprogram comprising: instructions for performing image processing uponimage data; instructions for, in response to user instructions,performing image processing to image data of an image file recorded to arecording medium; instructions for determining whether image processingis to be performed by the image processing device, based on additionalinformation added to the image file; and instructions for prohibitingimage processing from being performed in response to user instructionswhen the determination device determines that image processing is not tobe performed by the image processing device.
 15. The image processingcontrol program according to claim 14, further comprising: instructionsfor deciding whether performing image processing upon image data isappropriate or not, based upon photographic conditions during imagecapture of the image data.
 16. The image processing control programaccording to claim 15, further comprising: instructions for decidingwhether performing image processing upon image data is appropriate ornot, based upon details of previous image processing of the image data.17. The image processing control program according to claim 16, furthercomprising: instructions for deciding that it is not appropriate toperform, upon a same image data, a same type of image processing as hasbeen previously performed.